![](https://peacelutheranknoxville.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Marlene-Klukken-2024-scaled.jpg)
I was born in Spokane, Washington, and have lived in North Dakota, Minnesota, New Jersey and Florida before coming to Tennessee. Music has always been a very important part of my life from playing piano, organ, cornet and singing in choirs. My father was the pastor of a small church in North Dakota and that is where my first began playing the organ at the age of 14. I graduated from Lutheran Brethren Schools, Moorhead (MN) State College, and the University of Florida. I have previously served at Peace in various capacities as organist, choir director, and music director for 35 years. I experience music as a gift from God that can speak to the soul in a special way that other mediums cannot always do.